Why You Should Remember Amber Rayne For So Much More Than Her Work In Porn

On Saturday, porn star Amber Rayne was found dead at age 31. While no official cause of death has been released, the Los Angeles coroner's office says it may be “an accident or possible overdose.” Rayne’s death comes just a few months after she, along with many other adult performers, accused fellow adult performer, James Deen, of rape. Last November, Deen denied the claims made against him through a series of tweets.

But while Rayne (her real name was Meghan Wren) was a porn star, something on which most media outlets are likely to focus, Rayne was far more than her job — just like anyone else. Although she had performed in more than 500 adult films since she entered the porn industry in 2005 and before her retirement in April 2015, the fact that she was a porn star, a legitimate way to make a living, did not define her.

Although the exact cause of death won’t be determined until after a proper autopsy is done, let’s take a moment to remember Rayne for all the other things she was instead of solely her work in porn, from an animal lover to a cancer survivor. She deserves at least that.

1. She Was A Director And A Producer

Not only did Rayne perform in front of the camera, but she had a talent for being behind the camera, too. During her 10 years in the business, Rayne expanded her talents to include editing, directing, and producing several adult films.

2. She Studied Theatre, Dance, And Art History In College

Born and raised in Detroit, Rayne moved to L.A. where she attended California State University, Los Angeles. There she double majored in theatre and dance, while minoring in art history.

3. She Was An Understudy For Les Miserables

Although she had her sights on L.A. for quite some time, she finally ended up there after touring with Les Miserables as an understudy for six months.

4. She Was An Avid Animal Lover

Not only did Rayne have a dog with whom she ran every day, but she was also a horseback rider who owned a horse farm and was a riding instructor. She often posted photos on social media of she and the horses at her farm, most specifically her great love, Galli.

5. She Was Close To Her Family

Rayne spent this past Easter with her family, tweeting a photo of she and her two sisters. She also commented on how her dad wouldn’t let the girls date growing up. Earlier this year she tweeted a photo of herself in a dress her mother helped her pick out for the 2016 AVN awards.

6. She Was An Advocate For Healthy Sex Practices

Although many adult films don’t include condoms, Rayne was still vocal about how important it is to know your status. Just last week, she tweeted a photo of her bandaged up arm after getting her regular STI screening.

7. She Was A Video Game Character Designer

Not only was Rayne an riding instructor, but her love of video games led her to creating characters for video games. Final Fantasy and Warcraft being two of her favorites, which she kept at her parents’ home so she could focus on work.

8. She Was A Big Sports Fan

Rayne was the very proud season ticket holder for the San Jose Sharks and an overall sports fan.

9. She Was A Cancer Survivor

In 2013, Rayne revealed she was undergoing chemotherapy for uterine cancer. She had also had non-Hodgkin lymphoma in the past. She was open about her struggles with cancer and became a very vocal cancer activist.

10. She Was A Star Wars Fan

As a fellow Star Wars fan, I had to include this fact about Rayne. She often tweeted Star Wars references, toys, and even a photo of someone riding a horse in a Darth Vader mask. It's even further proof of just how "normal" she was — she was just like you and me.

Want more of Bustle's Sex and Relationships coverage? Check out our new podcast, I Want It That Way, which delves into the difficult and downright dirty parts of a relationship, and find more on our Soundcloud page.

Images: Amber_Raynexxx/Twitter

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